I was having a mentoring session with a 22-year-old over a week ago and asked her if she has a LinkedIn profile.She said she had just registered on the platform but that there was barely anything on her profile and that “she doesn’t know how to use it”. Recognizing a flimsy excuse I quickly asked […]
Belated Birthday Reflections…
I’m writing this in arrears. It took a while to get the words. I still don’t know if I have the right ones. And because I’m writing in arrears the feelings I’m trying to convey are blanched and decolourized, lacking the vivacity of the heaviness I felt in the month this post was to have […]
On the eve of another October 1st in Cameroon…
As an advocate and a writer, I am often asked for my opinions on the ongoing Anglophone Crisis. On the eve of another October 1st, I was in conversation with CIVICUS about the state of issues in our Anglophone regions today and efforts to #EndAnglophoneCrisis. Similarly, my young brother who is born and bred American […]
Demystifying Mental Health- Episode 2
as I meditated it was clear that I couldn’t share the story of my baptism- this renewal of vows and symbol of being ‘reborn’ – without speaking of how I have sought death.
Thriving as a Cameroonian Child almost always requires rebelling… Let’s talk about why & how
One would likely get dismissed for suggesting that African parents ‘spoil their kids’ as much if not more than their Western counterparts. I’ve said as much on occasion and gotten reactions like: “How can you even think that? No, we are very strict; our kids don’t talk back and won’t engage is bold displays of […]
Of Poems & My Writing Journey…
Today, I’m thinking of the fact that writing no longer comes easy to me. I no longer feel as excited about penning down my thoughts as I once did. I published my first book in 2010- a poetry collection- and I thought I would be writing steadily since then. I imagined I would have published […]
An Antithesis of Popular “Inspirational” adages
One of my vivid childhood memories is of the day I learned the importance of knowing and understanding what you’re saying/singing. I was roughly ten years old and singing the infamous chorus of Lady Marmalade (remix with Missy, Mya, Pink, etc. of course) when my uncle nearly knocked down the bathroom door demanding I come […]
An Interview with Myself on Depression: Episode 1
Mental health is gaining traction, more people are speaking up which is great. Getting therapy is becoming normalized (at least via Western media)- also great. But as with most things, “trending” comes along with distortion and confusion and a lot of ignorance. Between November 2020 and April 2022 I have struggled with recurring episodes of […]
Five Things That are Marketed as Feminist but are NOT!
These days feminism is a buzzword. On one hand, nearly everyone has some dastardly opinions on feminists even if they can’t clearly define what feminism is. On the other hand, every other product, event or even phrasing is marketed as if it were “women empowering” or “feminist”. For those who know what feminism is, the […]
Was it even love?
You may be familiar with the philosophical riddle that goes “if a tree falls in the forest and there was no one to hear it, did it even fall”? That question which is typically used to question the value of the unperceived came to mind tonight as I considered how best to write this post […]